Neuropsychiatric evaluations of postictal behavioral changes

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Epileptology

Background:

• Postictal behavioral changes (PBCs) are common in epilepsy patients, manifesting as psychosis, aggression, and mood alterations.
• Understanding and treating PBCs is crucial for patient care.
• Objective assessment tools are needed to quantify these neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the utility of objective psychiatric rating scales for assessing PBCs in epilepsy.
• To highlight the potential of these scales in understanding the pathophysiology of PBCs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on objective rating scales used in clinical psychiatry.
• Discussion of scales applicable to schizophrenia, depression, mania, and aggressive behavior.
• Consideration of scales like the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale for PBC assessment.

Main Results:

• Few studies have utilized objective rating scales for neuropsychiatric symptoms in epilepsy.
• Existing scales for psychiatric disorders are likely adaptable for assessing PBCs.
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments combined with neuroimaging may illuminate PBC pathophysiology.

Conclusions:

• Objective psychiatric rating scales offer a valuable method for assessing PBCs in epilepsy.
• Further research integrating these scales with neuroimaging is recommended to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of PBCs.